Operating for over 130 years, Aurora still stands as Capri's oldest restaurant, tucked along the narrow stone lanes of the island's historic center. Founded by the D'Alessio family and now managed by its third generation, the venue has grown from a traditional local eatery into an internationally recognized dining spot. The dining room and outdoor street tables sit just a short walk from the central Piazzetta, surrounded by whitewashed buildings and climbing bougainvillea.
The restaurant sits in the upper village, surrounded by ancient stone alleys, historic homes, and gardens clinging to the hillsides. Visiting this pedestrian quarter on a Capri yacht charter brings you right into the island's historic core, where cobblestone paths wind past small artisan shops and open plazas looking out over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Aurora is regularly frequented by A-list celebrities
The story of Aurora belongs directly to the D'Alessio family. It started with Gennaro and Lucia D'Alessio, who built the restaurant's reputation on honest island cooking. Today, their daughter Mia D'Alessio runs the floor alongside her husband, Chef Franco Aversa, and their daughter Sara. Having worked in the kitchen since age 15, Mia helped evolve the venue while keeping her family's core recipes intact.
Chef Franco Aversa, who learned his craft in Sorrento and Munich before settling on Capri, relies on simple ingredients sourced across Campania. His kitchen strikes a natural balance between long-standing family traditions and modern technique, serving both lifelong locals and summer visitors.
Aurora's most famous dish is its patented Pizza all'Acqua, created by the family and served for decades. Unlike standard Neapolitan pizza with its thick, puffy rim, Pizza all'Acqua uses a light, watery dough stretched impossibly thin before hitting the oven. The result is a delicate, crispy crust topped simply with local mozzarella, fresh herbs, and a light kick of chili.
Alongside the thin-crust specialty, the kitchen serves fresh catches from the surrounding waters, handmade pastas, and seasonal produce grown in local soil. Sailing through the region on an Amalfi Coast yacht charter gives you a direct taste of how much regional food culture changes from one bay to the next.
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To match the food, Aurora built an incredible wine cellar over the decades, housing thousands of rare bottles and vintage crus. It operates almost like a library of Italian and global winemaking, holding prized local bottles from Campania right next to historic vintages from Piedmont, Tuscany, and Champagne.
A Mediterranean yacht charter itinerary through these islands brings you straight to a culture where vineyard traditions and maritime life have developed side by side for centuries. The cellar at Aurora honors that deep regional background, offering specific pairings for local sea bass, red mullet, and classic Caprese dishes.
Tucked into the village streets, Aurora gives guests an authentic taste of Capri's lifestyle and long-standing hospitality. Visiting Campania on an Italy yacht charter lets you spend your days anchored off quiet cliffs and your evenings surrounded by the energy of the upper town.
As night falls, the restaurant becomes a natural gathering point near the main square. Adding a dinner here to a private yacht charter links time on the water with a genuine look at Capri's culinary history.
A night at Aurora connects you directly to the family history, local recipes, and timeless atmosphere that defined Capri long before it became a global resort destination. The warm service, signature thin-crust pizza, and deep wine cellar make it an essential evening stop whenever you visit the island.
Working directly with a dedicated yacht charter broker ensures table reservations, shore visits, and custom island routes come together smoothly.
Contact an experienced yacht charter broker today to plan your custom Italian sailing itinerary.
